Under FERPA, which statement correctly describes access to student records?

• A. Access is automatically granted to faculty without consent.
• B. Access is publicly available to anyone who asks.
• C. Student records are protected; parents or school officials may access with consent or if the student is a dependent; provide a signed FERPA release.
• D. Access is restricted only during finals week.

Answer: (C)

FERPA protects student records, so access isn’t automatic or public. Parents may view records if the student is a dependent for purposes like taxes, or the student can authorize access with a signed FERPA release. School officials can access records if they have a legitimate educational interest, and they can do so without a consent form for their official work. The statement that best reflects this is the one that notes records are protected and access is allowed for parents or school officials with consent or dependent status, with a signed FERPA release used to authorize disclosure in other cases. The other options contradict how FERPA works: access isn’t automatic for faculty, records aren’t publicly available, and access isn’t limited to finals week.